13 alliance members involved: NATO starts defense exercise with nuclear weapons

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This Monday, NATO begins its annual maneuvers to defend the European alliance area with nuclear weapons. Over the next week and a half, approximately 60 aircraft will be involved in the ‘Steadfast Noon’ exercise, including modern fighter jets, but also surveillance and tanker aircraft and B-52 long-range bombers. This year the location of the maneuvers is mainly the airspace above Italy, Croatia and the Mediterranean Sea. According to NATO, there are a total of 13 participating states, including Germany.

NATO emphasizes that “Steadfast Noon” is not a response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and that no sharp weapons will be used. The exercise, which runs until October 26, is therefore a routine training measure. It will take place at least 1,000 kilometers from the Russian border.

American nuclear weapons in Belgium and the Netherlands

At the same time, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (64) said last Thursday that Russia’s war against Ukraine was a reminder of the important role nuclear weapons played in deterrence. “Steadfast Noon” will help ensure the credibility, effectiveness and security of nuclear deterrence.

NATO does not provide any information about the exercise scenario or details. According to military experts, the exercises, which take place regularly in October, practice how to safely transport U.S. nuclear weapons from underground warehouses to the aircraft and mount them under fighter jets. However, during the training flights the aircraft was flown without the bombs.

NATO’s so-called ‘nuclear sharing’ stipulates that, in the event of an emergency, American nuclear weapons stationed in Europe can also be dropped from aircraft of partner states and then, for example, opposing forces can be neutralized. For example, according to officially unconfirmed information, American nuclear weapons are said to be stored in northern Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Bundeswehr recently took part in the Steadfast Noon exercises with, among other things, Tornado jets. (SDA)

Source: Blick